Category Archives: Parliamentary Questions

Parliamentary Questions (PQs) may be submitted by a TD for oral answer in the Dáil or, as in the majority of cases, for written answer. TDs may put questions on any topic to the Taoiseach or any minister, subject to conditions and procedures as outlined in standing orders.

By convention Ministers do not usually table PQs. As Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development I answer questions in the Dáil on issues relating to Communities, Natural Resources and Digital Development.

Seán Kyne TD asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he and State agencies within his Department’s remit are taking to ensure a supply of office and manufacturing facilities generally but also in County Galway where a constraint on suitable accommodation has delayed the establishment of new companies or divisions of existing… Continue Reading

Over 1,000 jobseekers in Galway and Mayo are participating in JobPath. Launched last July, JobPath is a new employment activation programme which provides one-to-one support and assistance to long term unemployed people. The figures for Galway and Mayo were confirmed to me by Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, Mr Kevin Humphreys to… Continue Reading

In the Dáil recently during questions to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I raised several issues regarding the funding of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency but stressed that consultation must take place with the Oireachtas and with stakeholders as to how the funding will be spent. Raising the issue in the Dáil… Continue Reading

In the Dáil the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar confirmed to me that thirty new beds for the Emergency Department at UHG are to open later this month/early in January. I raised UHG with Minister Varadkar during Questions to the Minister for Health and also sought figures on the number of additional staff that have… Continue Reading

The ‘Back to Work Family Dividend’, introduced in January, is supporting over 400 families in Galway and 228 in Mayo. The figures were supplied by way of Dáil question which I raised in in the Dáil with Minister for Social Protection and Tánaiste Joan Burton. The Back to Work Family Dividend’ was introduced as part… Continue Reading